Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hi,

Does anyone have details of the crew or unit of the R-5 that was shot down by Ltn H Strömberg on 15 February 1943? Location was near Kärkijäri.

Strömberg was flying a Gladiator and this was the last claim made by the aircraft during WWII.

Thanks,

Alex

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Alex, can you explain this half-sentence a bit?

Thanks,

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hi Dénes,

Sorry for the confusion. This was the last claim made by a Gladiator during WWII.

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hello Alex
The History of LeR 2 (Keskinen and Stenman, Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 17, Helsinki 2001), under which Lt. Strömberg served, doesn’t relieve the unit of the R-5, meaning that the Finnish researchers have not fond the match by circa 2000. That in itself doesn’t mean much because this is the case of almost all of the R-5, R-Z and U-2 claims of the regiment in 1941-44. Situation is different with fighter and bomber claims. C-F Geust who had done at least most of the research for claim verification in Russian archives for the book might be able to comment more on this. And there is just coming out 2 volume book on Finnish air victory claims, maybe there is info on Strömberg’s possible victim.

Juha

BTW Strömberg's sortie was 19.00 - 20.00. Source LeR 2

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hi Juha,

Thanks for your reply. I'll keep a look out for the two volume book on Finnish combat claims.

Alex

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

One more thing, Alex.
Are You aware that it was a “night kill” claim over a just taken off R-5, which still had its navigation lights on? At that time of year here up north its dark at around 19.30.

Juha

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hi Juha,

Yes, I have the combat report from Ltn Strömberg and he mentions the navigations lights on the aircraft. He also stated that the Russian airfield was lit up in the same way as the Finnish ones.

Alex

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Excellent, Alex
so You have a primary source! I only have seen the text of the combat report in the history of the LLv 16.

Very thorough work
Juha

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hello Alex, not on 15 Feb 43 but in the new Keskinen's and Stenman's Suomen Ilmavoimat / Finnish Air Force 1941 on p. 140 is a following info, (date 18 Sept. 1941):
"179 IAP flying MiG-3s claimed having shot down in Karelia one reconnaissance plane by N.I. Alabin, who had to bail out himself."

Now the recon plane was most probably vänr. Toivo Ilmari PURHONEN's Gladiator GL-277, which went missing on recon mission along roads Markkila - Suollusmäki - Prääsä on Aunus / Olonets Isthmus, t/o time 10.40. The plane was last seen over Markkila at 11.30 flying East. GL-277 was the only FAF loss on that day and there is no Finnish claims on that day.

Maybe C - F. Geust or one of our Russian friends have more detailed info on circumstances of Alabin's bail-out.

Re: Russian lose of R-5 on 15 February 1943
 

Hi Juha,

Thanks for the info. I'll update my files accordingly, with the possibility that a Mig-3 shot down GL-277

Alex